The National tribune., 1887-11-03
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma.
uOnal Capital

bring the cases of the condemned Nhlcago an
archists before that Court created more general
interst than is usually given TO passing occur
rences here.
The Court took up the matter on Wednesday.
and by a. m. three hours before the Court
opened, the broad corridors in the neighbor-
hood of the Court were crowded with people
who came there TO hear and see.
The general public was not admitted until
Court was ready 10 open, and then the crowd
ing mass had grown great that IL was with
difficulty that a lane cleared TO let the
grave, slken-robe Justices pass In formal pro-
cesson across the hall aud through their ante
rooms TO the bench.
When the Judges had opened Court the out
side mass was with difficulty forced TO form
long lines beyond the door, and then only so
many were admitted as could find seats within,
while the rest waited patiently, hour after
hour outside until, as one inside after another
would drop out those next at the head of the
outside line were admitted 10 the vacant places.
The proportion of ladies was very large, and
the favored ones within the bar by right as
being ON the roll Of attorneys Of the high Court,
comprised almost every lawyer Of prominence
and celebrity now in the city.
The scene inside WAS impressive,-it always
Is, for that matter,-and torcibly reminded the
spectator of the famous picture representing
Henry Clay addressing the U. :. Senate in this
very room in the days when this WAS the Sen
ate Chamber.
Remove the long, high. polished mahogany
bench with its nine black -robed, venerable
men behind, and substitute the high chair on a
dais with its heavy drapery above aud the
great semi-circular room is still the same eX-
cent only that the little desks for Senators are
replaced by handsome tables for the barristers
OF the highest Court in the land.
The gathering of spectators seemed 90 be ut
terly free from any element that might be
guessed to be in sympathy with the cause these
great lawyers came here 10 debate, but WAS
rather from that strange element Of curiosity
that is inherent in mankind-man or woman,
of whatever nation or color. Most who gained
admttance scarcely waited longer than 20
identify Gen. Butler, Gen. Roger A. Pryor,
Capt. Black aud Hon. Randolph Tucker, of the
anarchists counsel, and Acknowledgement
Hunt and District Attorney Grinnel who APP
peared to defend the Commonwealth of Illinois,
aud then dropped cut one or two at a time, TO
make room for others.
The main interest Of the public centered about
Gems Pryor and Butler and Capt. Black. Gen.
Pryor looks like the popular idea of a Spanish
poet, with his pale, clear-cut features, fine eyes
and long black hair, while Gen. Butler was the
bean ideal in dress of well-t0-do man-about-
town cavalier, whose life is all rose leaves and
free from care. His hair has grown gray and
scant, and develops TO view only little fringe
around the neck from ear 20 ear, that he
tips back his hat TO meet the hair. He was
dressed MS neatly as il prepared for an after
breakfast speech at wedding, IN full dress
suit with faultlessly- tied cravat, and each day
wore iaunty boutonniere ia his coat lapel-a
scarlet geranium the first day. and white camel
lias on Thursday. He didn't look at all AS if
he had ever ridden, booted and spurred, at the
head of armed columns in the field of war.
The point made by the counsel for the con-
demned anarchists was based on the article Of
the Constitution which stipulates that mo
-
or property without due process Of law" and
the gist of the argument IN behalf Of writ
of error from the Supreme Court was 10 the
effect that the trial was not in % due process of
law " under the Constitution. Ii was argued
that jurors were in the iury-box who had ex-
pressed opinions as to the guilt of the accused,
and therefore, should not have served, as their
presence on the jury imperied the lives of the
accEsed. This point was denied by the States
counsel, Attorney General Hunt aud his asso-
ciate, State Attorney Grinnell who conducted
the anarchists trial, pointed out that the
Jurors indicated by the opposing counsel were
accepted ly the defense at the trial when the
latter still had the privilege OF many per-
emptory challenges.
Gen. Buffers speech was the principal one
In behalf OF the writ of error, but il was APP
parent to any one who had heard the veteran
sOldier-lawyer on other cases, that he was not
deeply in earnest Instead of the snap and
VI
aud somewhat labored, As if he knew his cause
was weak.
THE HERO OF THE MONITOR.
Rear Admiral John Lorimer W0rden, u. s.
Navy-he of Monitor fame-was my companion
in Fourteenth street car last Sunday morn.
ing. There has been much said lately about
the Admiral's health and sufierings, aud il was
some surprise 10 see how hale aud hearty the
veteran looked. He will be 20 years Of age
ba= Int = no. "A
headaches that atllict him in such hot weather
as the exceptional season just passed, he feels
as well as be did years ago. Ii is now much
more than % years since that memorable time
when he steamed slowly into Hampton Roads
and the next day gave successful battle 10 the
rebel giant that had crashed through everything
IN its way ailoat the day before. The Monitor
and MerTimac-the Virginia the rebels called
their stolen craft-revOiut onized the world
warfare afoat, but the victor that March DAY
OF 1862 at the close of the fight lay blinded and
sore in his ron-bound cabin, with hardly Q
hope Of ever again treading deck as com.
mander. Ills face now shows little trace oi
where the huge powder q rains Of the exploding
rebel shell burned il almost out of sembanct
of human Visage, but sparse beard, worn Ions
below the face, hides the scars, and only in th,
still bright blush-gray eyes are seen the pow
der marks. As he turned his face TO show,
blue-DlAcI stain appears on the outer edge O
the left eyeball, but the gallant hero says tina
his eyesight is yet as unimpaired one Of hi
age could hope for. lie lives on h street, no
far away from Lafayette Square, and is out o
doors each morning with sunrise for a lOnj
walk. lie says that he finds his legs tri fl
heavier than of old, aud that 10 be hi
only physical warning Of approaching old age
When lac turns out he starts out for a Unl
walk, but wisely chooses for his course som
near line OF street railway, aud when he fiud
fatigue coming on him boards a strect-car ani
rides homeward. lie tells the writer that
oyerheaied on excited Ina any way the powder
marks in his face at once show out promi
nently.
ILLNESS OF SECRETARY WHITNEY.
IL was announced last Saturday that Hon
William G. Whitney, the Secretary Of the Navy
Is ia such bad health that for a considerab,
time he viii be unable 30 attend 10 any ofiica
business whatever, not even 30 prepare his an
Dnal report. This created considerable excite
ment both in aud outside of Navy circles
and the causes which led 10 the break-dow
were variOnsly given. IL was semi-ofiiciall
stated that his trouble is nervous prostratior
resulting from hard study and over work nc hi
duties, but this is not generally accepted anon
those most familiar with Mr. Whitney's meth
DDS.
When he first became Secretary OF the NAVY
the new Secretary went at his work with
grand rush, determined 20 be in fact the hea
OF the Navy. and 10 do himself All that was I
be done. he soon found this TO be an actus
impossibility, because Of hs lack of the tech
nical knowledge OF details which could only
H.. - a. 2